Well I have completely neglected my recovery thread lol!! I am now 7 1/2 weeks out and doing quite well. Despite a very rocky start with a lot of pain and more swelling when compared to my first TKR (I know every knee is different but can't help myself) this knee seems to be healing faster. I got myself off of the oxys, just couldn't stand the dopey way they made me feel. I started tramadol which I had pre-op and my OS wrote me another prescription. I saw the ortho PA at 5 weeks due to the increased swelling noted at my 2 week visit. The swelling went down some but is still there but not too bad. X-rays were good too. Home PT has finished with no outpatient PT, I feel that I just do better on my own by listening to my knee and not stressing it. Pain is better but I am still taking tramadol 2-4 times daily along with Tylenol ES 2-3 times daily. My pain never gets above a 2 or 3 and activity doesn't seem to make it worse. The pain is more of an ache that is so much more tolerable than that awful pre-op pain. I must confess that I don't ice that much anymore but when sitting my legs are always elevated. I have been walking without a device for a few weeks now and no longer have a limp. My ROM is 130/0!!!! I still have a good amount of numbness on the lateral part of my knee which is better but I'll say that shaving my leg feels so weird, almost like shaving leather--I truly hate that sensation! My incision looks good although it looks like a stitch may be poking through right at the top. No redness or oozing. I see my OS on Monday and will see what he thinks. I remember the same thing happening last time.
Activity wise, I have progressed much faster than with my first TKR. I am doing all of the housework (sitting when I can, I've become an ace at modifying things so that I can do them) and cooking (a lot of easy meals but hey no one's starving). This week it has been so beautiful outside I have been cleaning up my flower beds, again sitting to get the low parts. Of course everything takes me longer than usual due to taking rest breaks and stopping when I feel like I've had enough. Normally I could do the flower beds in a day, so far I'm on day 3 and only 2/3 finished. I do stretches when I'm sitting and some walking but no other exercises. I can finally go up stairs like a big girl and have just started working on going down stairs. I have been driving for weeks and can easily do the grocery shopping.
Sleep has been very good pretty much right from the beginning. Starting at about week 4-5 I stopped napping on and off during the day in order to prepare for going back to work. Last time I remember napping and resting most of the day right up until the time I went back to work and it was HARD to get through the days. Then again last time I also had terrible insomnia and was usually up most of the night for the whole first 2 months. I feel more ready for my return to work next Tuesday and honestly almost feel guilty for being off this week since I feel so good. I will be taking Wednesday's off for a couple of weeks so work 2 days off 1 work 2 off 2 will be a pretty good start. Last time I took Friday's off and by day 3 I was exhausted.
My left TKR at 9 months feels completely normal, feels like a natural knee except for the quarter sized numb area on the lateral part of the knee cap. It is strong and has supported me all through this right TKR recovery. I know that my right knee will in time also feel that good. I feel like I am getting my life back---it has been a long road these past couple of years with so much pain and having to forego so many things that I love.
Sorry for the long novel, I just wanted to give this thread a good update for anyone who is reading. I wish all my fellow Bonesmarties a good recovery!
United States
. The weekend has been pretty good so far, pain feels controlled and I'm sleeping well. We'll see what tomorrow brings...
Great report! You are doing so well. I'm one day ahead of you and maybe it was the time of the year but fortunately I'm doing very well also. It's nice to hear that you can see a wonderful life ahead with two strong knees. I'm going to try to do the same type of work schedule when I go back to work too. Great minds think alike.
Great report! It's good to hear how well you are doing.
